Automatic clutch



Sept. 14, 19,37.

E. H. E'ASTMN AUTOMATIC CLUTCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l InventorA E15/Tias mam Filed Sept. 15, 1932 l/lttorney sept. 14, 1937. 1 E. H EASTMAN 2,092,911

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Bil-@Mm I /1 Home y sept.. 14, 1937. l.;- H, EASTMAN I 2,092,911y

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Filed sept. 15, 1932 v 6 sheets-sheet 4 K' l Inventor .35 f EHEat/zam i Attorney Sept. 14, 1937. E. H. EAsTMAN 2,092,911

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Filed Sept. l5, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5' Inventor EH56 man Bygmm Q l/qttorney Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNiTED STATES garer oFF-ICE AUTOMATIC' CLUTCH Ernest H. Eastman, Miami, Fla.

Application September 15, 1932, Serial No. 633,340 s claims. (c1. 19g-iai My invention relates to means for connecting the power plant of a motor Vehicle .or the like to the driving wheels or the like thereof, and relates particularly to controllable automatic clutch means for connection between the motor of a motor Vehicle and the change-speed mechanism thereof, and an important object of Ymy invention is to provide controllable automatic clutch means of thisl type which is free-wheeling, but which can be quickly locked against free-wheeling so that the braking action of the motor may be utilized, said clutch mechanism including means for locking the releasing means of the clutch as the vehicle brakes are applied, together with means permitting the changing of gears in the transmission or change-speed device without the necessity to use the clutch pedal after the first manual-disengagement and engagement of the clutch pedal, and to provide that this clutch mechanism be adaptable `to different types Vand classes of motor vehicles, and be susceptible of easy and efficient installation thereon.

Another important object of my invention is to provide automatic clutch mechanism of the type described in which all of the Working parts run in oil, including a large number of clutch disks, which because of their number prevent grabbing and eliminate transmission of vibration from the motor.

Another important object of my invention is `the provision in a clutch mechanism of this type of clutch brake means which acts similar to a drive shaft brake, and promotes ease of quick stopping and starting and thereby increases safety and convenience in the operation of the vehicle, and to provide speed affected clutch disk engaging and releasing means whose action is strong and positive, the action thereof increasing with the load, so as to positively prevent slipping of the clutch plates while fully engaged.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational View of rthe left side of the embodiment of the invention installed between a convention-al transmission and a conventional motor.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through Figure l approximately on the line 2 2.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevational view of the left hand side of the` mechanism with the casing removed. H v "y Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail offa portion of the clutch rotor showing one of the ribs. I

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 3 approximatelyk on the line 5 5.

Figure l6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure 10 approximatelyon the line 6 5. v 1 y Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure 2 approximately on the line 'If- 1.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of aportion of the disk compressing ring or annulus.. l5

Figure 9 `is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 8 approximately on the line 9 9.

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 7 approximately on the line Ill-I0 and looking in the direction of' the 20 arrow.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the clutch release locking yoke. c g

Figure 12 is a detailed sectionalvew through Figure 3 approximately on the line I2 I2. 25

Figure 13 is an elevational View of the speed affected nut.

VFigure 14 is a sectional view showing the brake band retr-acting spring mechanism.

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional View taken 50 l through Figure 7 approximately on the line I5 I 5.

Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 15 approximately on the line 35 Iii-I6. ,y Figure 17 is a perspective view of one of the pins carried by the clutch plate compressing annulus.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 refers generally to a-oonventional auto- 40 mobile transmission, and the numeral 6 to the embodiment of the presentinvention which takes the place of the usual clutch and is located between* the transmission and the motor. The clutch foot pedal is indicated at l while the foot brake pedal is indicated by thenumeral l8. As seen in Figures 1 and 2 the clutch pedal 'I is mounted kupon the clutch shaft 9, and pivotally connected to of the brake pedal is transmitted to a transverse 55 shaft I1 the nature and purpose of which will be disclosed herein. Forwardly of and slightly below the transverse shaft |1 is another shaft I8 to which is xedly connected an arm i9 which has pivotally connected to the outer end thereof one end of a link 20 having its opposite end pivoted to the link 22 at the point 2|. The pivot 2| also connects the rear end of the link 22 and the front end of the link 23. The front end of the link 22 is pivotally connected to the outer end of an arm 24 which is fixed on the clutch shaft 6, while the rear end of the long straight link 23 is pivotally connected to the outer end of an arm 25 which is fixed to that portion of a shaft 26 which extends from the left hand side of the casing which encloses the clutch mechanism.

The casing which encloses the clutch mechanism comprises an upper half 21 and a lower half 28 bolted together by means of flanges and bolts indicated by the numerals 29 and 36, respectively. rIhis is only a suggested type of casing, and any type or adaptation of casing which will permit the connection of the clutch and brake pedals and the free movement of the linkage in connection therewith, and afford adequate adaptation of the device of the invention to vehicles of different types. and makes may be used. The rear end of the casing is to be bolted or otherwise suitably connected to the forward end of the transmission casing, and the front end of the casing is to be similarly attached to the motor or y-wheel housing as indicated at 3| in Figure 1 and Figure 2. With this fully enclosed type of installation an oil lubricant may be used so that the parts all work in oil, thereby reducing wear and increasing efficiency and reducing transmission of vibration from the motor.

Suitably supported within the clutch housing is the clutch mechanism the nature of which is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 7, to which reference is now made. The numeral 32 refers to the forward end of the transmission shaft which is shown in dotted lines upon which is outside splined the hub 33 of the clutch rotor casing generally designated 34 which has the rim 35 which supports the annulus of brake material or brake drum designated 36 which is acted upon by the surrounding brake contractible band 31. A suitable ball bearing structure 36 surrounds the hub 33 and acts between the clutch casing 34 and the housing 6. As indicated at 4| the clutch shaft 46 is outside splined to the clutch disk carrier rotor 42 which thereby is rotatable relative to the rotor casing 34. The carrier clutch disks 43 have the radially inwardly projecting tabs 44 placed in the slots 45 in the peripheral annulus portion 46 of the carrier 42. The clutch plates of largerdiameter which are designated by the numerals 41 are stationary with respect to the clutch rotor casing 34 and the clutch disks 43 work therebetween. As shown in Figure 5, the clutch plates 41 have peripheral notches 41 which receive the lugs 35 distributed around the inward surface of the casing rim 35. In the embodiment shown herein I employ seven of the larger plates 41 vand six of the smaller clutch plates 43, but a greater or less number of these plates may be employed as requirements dictate. Acting upon the forward side of the forward clutch plate 41 is a compressing annulus generally designated 48 which has bosses 49 in its front side which have fixed therein pins 56 which have a cylindrical body portion 5| and a rear reduced portion 52. These pins 56 slide through openings in the front wall plate 53 of the rotor casing which is secured in the manner shown in Figure 6 to the peripheral annulus 35 of the rotor casing 34. Bolts 54 extend through the marginal portions of the plate 53 which is in the form of spider or web as seen clearly in Figure 10.

At diametrically opposite points on the forward side of the plate 53 are pairs of ears 55 which mount pivot pins 56 which pivotally connect vthe radially outward end of arms 51 which are connected at their radially inward ends between ears on the rear side of an annulus 58 which has a bevelled front face and surrounds a slidable worm 59 on which works a left hand threaded heavy nut 66, which nut 66 is the speed affected inertia element of my clutch mechanism. Although it is not stated at this point just what actuates the arms 51, it is desired to point out that rearward movement of the arms 51 causes the pins 56 to move rearwardly and carry the compressing annulus 46 into contact with the forward one of the clutch rings or plates 41 so that the clutch plates 43 are gripped between the plates 41 and direct drive established through the clutch mechanism.

It will be seen that the worm 56 comprises a sleeve which is outside splined as indicated at 6| and slidable upon the clutch shaft 46. The worm is provided at its rear end with a stop flange 62 and is threaded at its forward end as indicated at 63 to receive a lock nut 64 which permits the removal of the inertia element 66. The nut 66 being left hand threaded moves forwardly when the speed of the transmission shaft 32 is greater than that of the clutch shaft 46 and rearwardly when the speed of the clutch shaft is greater than that of the transmission shaft 32. Lugs 56 on the forward face of the annulus 58 are engaged by and received in recesses 66 in the rearward face i of the nut 66 when the nut 60 has moved suiciently far in a rearward direction, so as to prevent rotation of the nut 66 relative to the annulus 58.

The lugs 58' have tapered or bevelled sides acting as cam surfaces in conjunction with generally similar lug-forms 66" on the rearward face of the nut 66 which result from the presence of the recesses 66. The effect is to have both lugs and recesses on both the nut 66 and the annulus 58. The bevelled ends of the lugs engage in a cam action when the nut has been rotated suiiiciently far in a rearward direction and thereby the compressing action of the annulus 48 on the clutch plates is usefully increased. Of course, movement of the nut 66 in the rearward direction mentioned is conditioned upon rotation of the clutch shaft 46 at a higher rate of speed than the transmission shaft 32, as when the engine to which the clutch shaft 46 is directly connected is pulling the car. When, however, the engine is not pulling the car, but is being turned over by the momentum of the forward motion of the car, the accelerator of the engine having been released, a powerful tendency exists for the inertia nut 66 to travel on the worm 56 in the opposite or forward direction and away from the annulus 58. 'Ihis tendency is permitted to merge into action by a small amount of slippage between the clutch plates which occurs as the engine speed drops below that of the transmission shaft. This slippage of the clutch plates in a vreverse direction is sufficient to enable the engaged bevelled cam surfaces of the various lugs on the nut 66 and annulus 58 to relieve their positions by moving slightly in the directions opposite to made. In this way the nut 66 becomes quickly absage-111:

doing release the annulus 58, the annulus .48, and the clutchplates into free-wheeling positions.

The threads on the worm 59and\in the nut lBill' end thereof the flanged hub which is installedv on the shaft 40 by first pushing thesame on the shaft to a rearward position, then inserting the transverse key 6'5 in the shaft 40 andl then bringing the hub 66 forwardly so that the extruding ends of the key (i-engage in accommodating openings in the bore of the hub, whereby the hub 66- is prevented fromA being moved farther forward or turned'on the shaft 40'. A-longitudinaL key 67 on the shaftdll is also engaged with the bore of the hub. 'I'he flange of the hub 66 is to be bolted to either a similarv angedhub on the crankshaft of the motor or to theY flywheel of the motor as may be desired.

Surrounding the hub 63 and the forward portion of the clutch shaft 40 is a heavy helical spring 68which acts between the flange of the hub 6B and a slidable ring 70.`which is freely slidable on the shaft 40. The helical spring 68, normallyV causes the slidable member llto abut the forward end of the wormi59; and pushthe worm 59 rearwardly in a manner tocause engagement of the'clutch plates 47', 43; through the cooperation of the nut 60, the annulus4 58.; and the arms 57.

Rearward movement of the speed affected inertia element nut 60"will bring about an engagement thereof with the annulus 58 which, in turn,

causes the rearward swinging of the arms 57T whereby the pins 50` are pushedv rearwardly through the plate 53 and bring the compressing annulus 48 into forcible engagement with the forward clutch platei 47' for compressing the clutch plates 47', 43together and increasing the clutch griping action. This rearward movement of the nut 60 takes place when the speed of the clutch shaft l0 is greater than that of the translmission shaft 32. the transmission shaft 32 is greater than that of the clutch shaft 4D the speed affected nut 60 will move forwardly and thereby release itself from engagement with the annulus 58,- with an obvious consequent releasing of the gripping relation of the clutch plates, until a position of the clutch plates is reached in which there is absolutely no effective engagement between the clutch plates- 47 and the clutch plates 43, in which condition a status of free-wheeling obtains.

When the clutch-plates 431, 417 are engaged and it is desiredl to prevent disengagement thereof, the clutch release locking yoke 72 is brought into action to keep the clutch release yoke inthe en However, when the speed ofY shown in Figuresl 2, and 11' ofthedrawings.Y Its horns which are adapted tobe positioned between the annulus58iand the ring l'have thereon frictionreducing balls` 79 on the opposite sidesl thereofA against which the nut58and`ring Si) ride. A-verticalrod'73 is attached to the top of the yoke 72S andl extends through the clutch housing for manual manipulation. Aftensionedspring 74 is arrange'd'abcvethe housing to retract the yoke outof operative position and into` inoperative' position as soon as the yoke is released'from oper ative position by mechanism to be described herein.

Whenthe yoke 72 is operated into operation` ittakes up' a position immediatelyv forwardof and 1 I engaging. thefront side of the annulus 53 and! holds theannulus 53 from moving forwardly. With the yoke 72 so positioned and the-annulus 5'8 so held the fact that the relative rates of rota-- tion of the clutch and transmission shafts may be different will not let the transmission go intol free-Wheeling, which it would otherwise do;

A- clutch releasing yoke 75 works in the channel of the shiftable ring 70 and the yoke has pivoted thereto arms 76 which are rigidly mounted upon the transversek shaft i8; The clutch releaselook ycke`72 is opera-ted by means of the shaft I7 which has rigidly connected arms 77 pivo'tally connectedto-stub shafts 78, formed on the yoke 72.. As seen iniFi'gure Bi'and in Figure 12 the lower end portions of the arms of the yoke 72 are providedv on either 'side with ball bearings 79- which provide practically frictionless engagementvt of the yoke 72 with the beveled face 80 on the rear side of the nut Sil and the beveled face-8l on the front side of the annulus158.

The brakeband 37 which encircles the casing 34 has on one end the strap 94 and onthe opposite endthe adjustable anchor 95fwhioh is con nected to the left side of the lower half of ther clutch housing 6 inthe 'manner shown at 96 in Figure 2. Pivotally and operatively connected as indicated-at S4 to .the strap 34 is the outer end of an arm 93 fixed on the brake operating shaft 25. At the right side of the upper half of the housing Bis a rod 98 secured as shown in detail in Figure 14 to the brake band 37. A spring 99 operates between a washer itil-which is secured by a pin lill' on the rod 98 and a plate and'washer |62, engaged with the outside of the housing 6, so that the rod 98 ismoved to draw `the brake band 37 awayfrom the brake material 36 whenv the brake band is released.

Withthe vehicle at a standstill, with the transmission in neutral and the clutch pedal 7 in engaged position, and the motor of the vehicle running, a condition obtains in which the transmissionshaft 32v and the clutch shaft 43 are turning at.v the same rate of speed. In order to shift into gear from neutral, it is` necessary to first depress the usual clutch pedal 7. This disengages or releases the clutch and at the same time contracts the brake band on the housing 34 so that the housing 34 and consequently the-clutch plates 47, the transmission shaft 32, and the countershaft gears in the transmission are prevented from turning or continuing to turn while the clutch is disengaged and the transmission is being shifted into gear. While thevehicle tran mission is in gear this braking arrangement has the eifect of a drive shaft brake acting while the clutch is disengaged and operated by the 'clutch- 5 pedal. After the shift into gear has been made in the usual way the clutch pedal is then-released to engage the clutch.A The'motor, whiclrhas beenl speeded up during these operations will turn the clutch shaft E@ which is directly connected thereto at a rate faster than that of the clutch casing 363 which is splined on the transmission shaft 32, and is at that time either turning slowly or is entirely stationary. This faster rotation of the clutch shaft 40 produces an increase in the force of engagement of the clutch plates itl with the clutch plates 43, because the static inertia of the element 60 is such that it resists being turned on the worm 59 as the worm is rotated with the shaft 40 on which it is splined and instead moves along the worm in a rearward direction until it engages the forward face of the annulus 53 and pushes the annulus 58 rearwardly sufficiently to forcibly engage the clutch plates 47 through the medium of the arms 51, the pins l), and the annulus QS. If for any reason themotor be slowed down by letting up on the accelerator subsequent to the described engagement of the clutch plates, to a speed less than that of the transmission shaft 32, the inertia of the nut 5S, the described camming effect of the lugs on the nut 50 and on the annulus 5d, and the pitch of the threads of the worm, in conjunction with the slight slip of the clutch plates in the reverse direction, cooperate to cause the nut 60 to move forwardly and away from the rearward clutch plate-engaging position and thereby release the engagement of the clutch plates 4l and 43, by loosening the engagement of the compressor annulus 48 with the plates lll. The vehicle will then be in free wheeling, and shifting of the transmission into different forward speeds may then be accomplished without operating the clutch pedal during such times as the speed of the transmission shaft is greater than that of the clutch shaft Ml.

In slowing down the vehicle while my clutch mechanism is in the above described free-wheeling condition, the foot brake pedal 8 is depressed in the` usual way to apply braking force to the Wheels of the vehicle. The first part of the brake applying movement of the pedal 8 turns the shaft ll so as to operate the locking yoke 'E2 into a position in front of the annulus 58 which will prevent the annulus 53 from moving forwardly and thereby releasing the clutch plates which the annulus 58 would otherwise do as the motor speed falls below that of the transmission shaft as soon as the operators foot is removed from the motor accelerator and applied to the brake pedal 8; whereby the clutch is maintained engaged and is prevented from disengaging automatically as it would otherwise do; and the braking power of the motor is rendered available for reducing the ground speed of the vehicle. This arrangement permits of locking the clutch out of automatic condition without applying the brake pedal. The spring in the member I2 equalizes the difference in the travel of the brake pedal and the travel of the yoke up and down. Of course, when the brake pedal 8 is subsequently released the locking yoke l2 is restored to initial inoperative position. The rod U3 which extends from the clutch housing 5 is connected to the locking yoke 'l2 in such a way that depressing the rod 'I3 will move the ylocking yoke into the locking pfosition in front of the annulus 58, entirely independently of application of the brake pedal 8. The spring arrangement in the member l2 permits suflicient rotation of the shaft l'l for this purpose Without disturbing the normal inoperative position of the brake pedal S.

To bring the vehicle to a complete stop, the

clutch pedal is depressed in the usual way to disengage the clutch, the brake pedal 8 being de-.

of the clutch pedal will disengage the clutch,

since compressing the clutchspring B8 by means of the clutch pedal 'l releases all other members of the clutch assembly.

When the clutch operating pedal 'l is de, pressed, two things happen practically in order, namely, the clutch operating spring 68 is compressed and the clutch released, and toward the end of the pedal movement, the clutch brake band 3l is contracted or applied. The first effect is produced by the rotation of the shaft I8, while the second mentioned effect is produced by the rotation of the shaft 26, both of which shafts are operatively connected to the clutch shaft 9 in the manner already described herein. It

should be observed that the operation of the brake pedal 8 has nothing to do with the operation of the clutch, the only function of the brake pedal in the circumstances described being to apply and release the locking yoke by operating the shaft Il.

When the clutch pedal is depressed this compresses the clutch spring 58 so as to permit forward movement of the Worm 59 on the shaft 40. This forward movement of the worm 5S carries the nut B0 forwardly and away from the annulus 58 so that 'the annulus 58 is freed to move forwardly and, of course, permit the locking yoke l2 to swing forwardly also. Enough space is provided between the described elements to permit free action thereof independently of each other and give the clutch plates room enough to completely disengage. When the clutch spring is compressed the described members operate automatically for releasing the clutch plates, When the members are locked in the free-wheeling positiens, the clutch may be operated with the clutch pedal l as in the case of any ordinary clutch. The only means provided for releasing the locking yoke 12 is the brake pedal 8.

In a practical embodiment of the present invention the yoke 'l2 is approximately one-quarter of an inch in thickness and the nut or annulus 60 travels about one-quarter of an inch along the worm 59.

v From the foregoing it will be evident that when the clutch pedal is operated in the release direction and the brake is operated to apply the brakes, the yoke l2 forces the annulus 58 forwardly so that the clutch plates are compressed. If the clutch is engaged when the brake is applied, the yoke does not turn the nut or annulus 60, but simply compresses the spring 68, the nut (ii) and the worm 59 moving forwardly on the shaft 4B.

As the foot brake pedal 8 is pushed downwardly, this pulls forward the link l I which is fastened to the pedal 8 and this action turns the shaft Il so as to force the yoke 'l2 downwardly so as to prevent the then engaged clutch plates from releasing until the clutch pedal is forced downwardly While the foot brake pedal is released. The connection between the brake pedal 8 and the arm lB is utilized in the vmanner and form shown in Figure 15 and this arrangement is provided to permit the brake pedal to be forced down as far as necessary, without forcing the yoke 'I2 too far down.

As the clutch pedal l is forced downwardly into the releasing position, this forces the arm 24 forwardly and the connecting link 23 pulls the arm 25 forwardly and thereby turns the shaft 26, whereby the other end o f the arm 93 is forced CII ' which to disengage.

- lshaftand .therear end of the motor shaft.. and.

manual.means for contractingand releasing the f downwardly. Since the arm 493 is'fastened -to the bracket 94, the downward movementof this arm contracts the brake band, which operates on the case 35, to constitute-the clutch brake.

To release the clutch, the clutch pedal 'l is pushed downwardly and this forces. thearm -Zil forwardly. The linkageconnecting the arms 26 and I9 then turns the-shaftl and thisl forces the yoke 'l2 forwardly and compresses the clutch spring 68. This permitsthe clutch .plates ll'i and 43 to separate and thereby. break the direct drive connection between the engine and the .transmission shafts.

In connection with the statement of operation appearing herein above it is to be noted that when the clutch pedal .is depressed, this compresses the clutch Ispring 68 and this permits the worm 59 to move forwardly on the .shafted The effect of this movement ofthe worm 59 is to release the pressure between the nut Eil and the annulus 58. The release of the pressure on the forward side of the annulus 58 which was constituted by the active pressure 'of the clutch springs maintained in the clutch plates, forces the annulus 58 forwardly. Further, when the locking yoke 'i2 is in the operative position the lower portions or horns thereof swing forwardly and the clutch spring contracts about three quarters of an inch. The locking means is about a quarter of an inch thick, and this difference in thickness permits the moving parts to work freely and gives the clutch plates plenty of room in When the clutch spring is compressed, the nut Sil, `the annulus 58, the worm S, and the clutch plates and the clutch spring 68 work automatically to release the clutch. The clutch pedal will, if operated, release the clutch whether or not the locking means described is in the operative position or not. Since the clutch spring '68 can be contracted about three quarters of an inch in a full-sized model. and since the yoke 12 only takes up about onequarter of an inch, sufficient room is provided to permit the clutch pedal to release the clutch.

Though I have shown and describedthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desirejtolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in material Aand structure and arrangement of parts, within kthe spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe subjoined claims.

` gage the clutch plate means of the rotor casing,

clutch plate compressing means carried by the rotor casing, inertia operated longitudinally movable means splined on the clutch shaft and operatively connected to said clutch plate compressing means for compressing and releasing the same, clutch plate engaging spring means mounted upon and surrounding the clutch shaft and operatively connected with the clutch plate compressing means, and motor shaft connection means between the forward end of the clutch clutch plateengagingspring means.

2. An automatic free-wheeling clutch Aof the -,type describedfor connection between .the forward end of the .transmission of an automobile said clutch comprising ka rotor casing splined' on the transmission shaft, clutch plate means` an,-` .choredin-the rotor casingand slidable axially thereon, a clutchrotor, va clutch Shaft on which .-said rotor is splined, axially slidable clutch plate means carried by the rotor and-arrangedto engage-the clutch plate means of therotor "casing,

clutch plate operating means, motor shaft connection means betweenthe forward end of the clutch shaft and the rear end of the motorshaft, manual means for releasing and engaging' the clutch plateoperating spring means, and manually operable 'meansifor'locking said Vspeed affected means'out of operationV and for locking the clutchplate compressing means in compressing position.

3. An automatic free-wheeling clutch of Athe type described forV connection between'the forw.transmission shaft and the rearward end of the y .moto-r. shaft of the motor of the automobile,

ward end of the transmission of 'an automobile transmission shaft" andthev rearward end oflitvl'ie` motor shaft of the motor of `the,'automobilefsaid clutch comprising a ro-tor casing splined onsaid transmission shaft, clutch plateA means anchored in said ro-tor casingandslidable ,axially thereon, a clutch rotor, a clutch shafton whichsaidfrotor is splined, axially slidable clutch plate means carried by said rotor and arranged to engage the clutch plate meansof the rotor casing,-clutch Aplate compressing means Ycarried vby "said rotor casing, inertia operated `longitudinally movable means carried byk and surrounding said clutch shaft and operatively connected-tosaid clutch plate compressing means, clutch plate operating spring umeans Tmounted upon fand" surrounding said clutch'shaft vand operatively connectedwith said clutch'plate compressing means, umotorfshaft connection means between 'the forward end of the-clutch shaftand the' rear end-of -themotor shaft, manual Vvclutch operating means Yfor compressing the clutch plate operatingspring-means,

manuallyoperable means ffor positively-locking Vsaid spee'dfaffected' means #outof' operation, said manuallybperable means acting' also-x for locking the clutch plate compressing means in compressing position.

4. An automatic free-wheeling clutch of the type described for connection between the forward end of the transmission of an automobile transmission shaft and the rearward end of the motor shaft of the motor of the automobile, said clutch comprising a rotor casing splined on said transmission shaft, clutch plate means anchored in said rotor casing and slidable axially thereon, a clutch rotor, a clutch shaft on which said rotor is splined, axially slidable clutch plate means carried by said rotor and arranged to engage the clutch plate means of the rotor casing, clutch plate compressing means carried by said rotor casing, inertia operated longitudinally movable means carried by and surrounding said clutch shaft and arranged to operatively connect with n of the clutch shaft and the rear end of the motor shaft, manual clutch operating means for compressing said clutch plate operating spring means.

5. An automatic free-wheeling clutch of the type described for connection between the forward end of the transmission of an automobile transmission shaft and the rearward end of the motor shaft of the motor of theautomobile, said clutch comprising a rotor casing splined on the transmission shaft, clutch plate means anchored in the rotor casing and slidable axially thereon, a clutch rotor, a clutch shaft on which said rotor is splined, axially slidable clutch plate means carried by the rotor and interposed between the clutch plate means of the rotor casing, clutch plate compressing means carried by the rotor casing, inertia operated longitudinally movable means carried by and surrounding the clutch shaft and operatively connected to said clutch plate compressing means, clutch engaging spring means mounted upon and surrounding the clutch shaft and operatively connected with the clutch plate compressing means, motor shaft connection means between the forward end of the clutch shaft and the rear end of the motor shaft, manual clutch operating means for contracting and releasing the clutch engaging spring means, manually operable means for locking said speed affected means out of operation and for locking the clutch plate compressing means while in compressing position for holding the transmission shaft and the clutch shaft directly connected, means operable by the manual clutch operating means for placing and releasing said clutch plate compressing means in and from compressing position, brake means operating upon said clutch rotor casing, linkage means connected between the manual clutch pedal operating means, and the brake means for operating thebrake means.

6. In a motor vehicle having a motor shaft and a transmission shaft, a clutch body fixed on the transmission shaft and embodying clutch plate means, a clutch shaft xed to the motor shaft and embodying a clutch rotor carrying second clutch plate means in position to engage the first clutch plate means for operatively connecting the clutch shaft and transmission shaft,

spring means carried by the clutch shaft and no rmally effecting engagement of the second and rst clutch plate means, brake means engageable with the clutch body, manual means for contracting the said operating spring means to release the first and second clutch plate means, and connection means between the manual means and the brake means for applying the brake means to the clutch body as the first and second clutch plate means are disengaged.

7 In a motor vehicle having a motor shaft and a transmission shaft, a clutch body fixed on the transmission shaft and embodying clutch plate means, a clutch shaft fixed to the motor shaft and embodying a clutch rotor carrying second clutch plate means in position to engage the rst clutch plate means for operatively connecting the clutch shaft and transmission shaft, second clutch plate means, operating spring means carried by the clutch shaft and normally effecting engagement of the second and rst clutch plate means, brake means engageable with the clutch body, manual means for contracting the said operating spring means to release the rst and second clutch plate means, and connection means between the manual means and the brake means for applying the brake means to the clutch body as the first and second clutch plate means are disengaged, and inertia operated means on the clutch shaft, operating connection means between the inertia operated means and the second clutch plate means for releasing and engaging the same independently of the manual means.

8. In a motor vehicle having a motor shaft and a transmission shaft, a clutch body xed on the transmission shaft and embodying clutch plate means, a clutch shaft fixed to the motor shaft and embodying a clutch rotor carrying second clutch plate means in position to engage the first clutch plate means for operatively connecting the clutch shaft and transmission shaft, second clutch plate means, operating spring means carried by the clutch shaft and normally effecting engagement of the second and first clutch plate means, brake means engageable with the clutch body, manual means for contracting the said operating spring means to release the rst and second clutch plate means, and connection means between the manual means and the brake means for applying the brake to the clutch body as the first and second clutch plate means are disengaged, and inertia operated means having a portion surrounding and splined to the clutch shaft and slidable thereon, and another portion surrounding the first portion and movable longitudinally thereon,l said operating connection means being connected to the other portion of said inertia operated'rneans.

ERNEST H. EASTMAN. 

